With Disney looking to replicate what the Marvel subsidiary has done with the superhero film world by building a cohesive theatrical experience with the Star Wars films, nobody was surprised when we got news that there would be standalone films coming out. Lucasfilm is essentially working in the same mold of building out its properties and managing them under the Disney umbrella and the idea of working with the vast canvas that is the property opens it up to a lot of potential, though it’s a little more awkward now since a lot of fans had hoped for the Expanded Universe to make some appearances in this way and bring those stories to life.
At the latest quarterly earning call for stockholders, Disney CEO Bob Iger talked a little bit about what’s coming down the pike for the property since there’s obviously interest after seeing the worldwide appeal in the May the Fourth events that were going on. We’ve had word previously that there were going to be two standalone films that would give Disney a new Star Wars film every year since they would slot in between the new trilogy (hopefully with some smart titling to separate them a bit) but now Iger has revealed that “at least three” spinoffs are planned that would expand the theatrical reach of the property – as well as toys, books, videogames and other events to be sure as well.
Of course, with all eyes focused on the new trilogy, there’s nothing to actually talk about what the first standalone film is about. But with it expected to have a 2016 release date, there’s expectations that we’ll start hearing more over the course of this year as things have to start falling into place to meet it, particularly since an outline and script are likely already working their way through finalization. With the potential of a young Han Solo film, a Boba Fett film or something else unrelated in the mix, the galaxy is wide open.
[Source: Variety reporter Marc Graser]